Trump emphasizes sovereignty, addresses key issues at UN

United States (US) President Donald Trump on Tuesday stressed the US’ commitment to sovereignty, maintaining that the US will always favour “independence and cooperation over global governments.”

Addressing the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Trump said, “Each of us here today is the emissary of a distinct culture, the rich history, and a people bound together by ties of memory, tradition, and the values that make our homelands like nowhere else on earth.”

“That is why America will always choose independence and cooperation over global governments, control and domination. I honor the right of every nation in this room to pursue its own customs, beliefs, and traditions. The United States will not tell you how to live or work or worship. We only ask that you honor our sovereignty in return,” the US President was quoted by CNN as saying in his address.

Trump backed up his comments by decrying the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), saying that the body had become “a grave embarrassment to this institution.” Trump further stated that the US will not return to the UNHRC without reforms and that his country will neither support nor recognise the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Trump also launched an attack on China, saying that the US would no longer tolerate their trade abuses and theft of US intellectual property.

“We will not allow our workers to be victimized, our companies to be cheated,” Trump said, while confirming that the tariffs on the nearly $250 billion dollars of Chinese goods were levied to protect it’s citizens.

While acknowledging that he has still had “great respect and affection” Chinese President Xi Jingping, Trump said that “America will always act in our national interests.”

He also blasted Iran for sowing “chaos, death and destruction,” in the Middle East and hailed his decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or the Iran nuclear deal, saying, “many countries in the Middle East strongly supported,” the US’ withdrawal.

“Iran’s leaders plunder the nation’s resources to enrich themselves and to spread mayhem across the Middle East and far beyond. The Iranian people are rightly outraged that their leaders have embezzled billions of dollars from Iran’s treasury, seized valuable portions of the nation’s economy, all to send out their proxies to wage war,” Trump added.

The US President also took note of the “encouraging measures” that have been taken by North Korea since his meeeting with Kim Jong-un in Singapore earlier this year.

“Since that meeting, we have already seen a number of encouraging measures that few could have imagined, only a short time ago. The missiles and rockets are no longer flying in every direction. Nuclear testing has stopped. Some military facilities are already being dismantled. Our hostages have been released, and as promised, the remains of our fallen heroes are being returned home,” Trump said.

While talking about India, he lauded New Delhi for its efforts to eradicate poverty and said, “There is India, a free society (of) over a billion people, successfully lifting countless millions out of poverty and into the middle class.”

He also said, “We think of the many before us who have come here to address the challenges of their nations and of their times and our thoughts turn to the same question that ran through all their speeches, resolutions and through every word and every hope.”

The US president further underscored the need to create a better world for the future generations.

“Dreams that fill the UNGA hall today are as diverse as the people who have stood at this podium and as varied as the countries represented in the United Nations. It really is something. It really is great great history,” he said.

The president also took the opportunity to highlight Saudi Arabia’s bold new reforms.